From TOLEDO ALLIANCE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
The Toledo Symphony Orchestra will present its first Mozart in the Afternoon Series performance, The Three Bs at the new, acoustically enhanced hall of the Valentine Theatre for a special matinee this Saturday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m.
The orchestra will perform music by Bach, Bizet, and Beethoven.
“This is the first public opportunity to see and hear the new stage enhancements at the Valentine,” says Zak Vassar, President & CEO of the Toledo Symphony. “Based on our initial tests, the new shell provides a beautifully blended range of sound and sense of presence. Particularly, the ringing quality of the higher frequencies is nothing short of astonishing.”
This past summer, the Wenger Corporation designed and installed a new acoustical shell to encompass the full stage of the 125-year-old theater with the generous financial support from the State of Ohio, The Andersons Fund Supporting Organization of the Toledo Community Foundation, Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), Owens Corning, and numerous individuals.
“Orchestras all over the world experience the same challenges in performance venues,” says Alain Trudel, Music Director for the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. “At the Valentine, a large percentage of our sound would get lost in the massive space above the stage. Now, with the shell surrounding us, our sound is projected out into the audience and we’re able to hear ourselves more clearly and adjust accordingly. I look forward to exploring more of what we can do with the new shell.”
The Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the Valentine Theatre dedicated the new shell at a private reception on Tuesday, Sept. 17. As part of the ceremony, Music Director Alain Trudel and the TSO gave a short performance to refine the concert set up and test the sound.
“The musicians were just as excited to get a sneak peek of the new shell as the audience was,” says Nancy Lendrim, Principal Harpist for the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. “These enhancements have made our jobs much easier. Before, we had to work extra hard to just fill the space with sound. Now, we are able to really tune into the score and expose parts of the music that would otherwise get lost above. We’re all at an advantage and I think it’s going to change the experience for everyone.”
“We are thrilled to include the orchestra shell to our Valentine stage,” says Jori Jex, Executive Director for the Valentine Theatre. “For years the Toledo Symphony and the Valentine have discussed the desire to have an expanded partnership and now it is a reality. Truly a win-win for the community.”
The first opportunity to hear the new shell is this Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 2 p.m. at the Valentine Theatre for the Toledo Symphony’s first Mozart in the Afternoon Series performance, The Three Bs. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at toledosymphony.com or by calling the box office at 419.246.8000.
